Faculty of Commerce, Law and Management (ETDs)
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Item Adoption of Solar Photovoltaic (PV) Technology in Residential Sectional-Title and Townhouse Community Schemes Market in South Africa(University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, 2024) Nkuna, Howard Siboniso; Mazonde, NomusaThe research was undertaken based on the experienced load-shedding and power outages in SouthAfrica. It was observed that other market segments, such as commercial real estate, businesses,industries, and residential customers with standalone houses, have adopted solar PV technology tomitigate the impact of load-shedding and power outages. The research was undertaken to identifyand analyse the factors hindering or facilitating solar PV technology adoption and identify activities ofresponsive business model elements that can facilitate solar PV system installation in the residentialsectional-title and townhouse community schemes in South Africa. A qualitative research approachwas used to undertake the study.The research conducted on the factors hindering and facilitating solar PV technology adoption in thesectional-title and townhouse community schemes segment of the residential market in South Africahas revealed significant insights. The study identified many barriers that impede the widespreadadoption of solar PV systems in these community schemes. These barriers encompass social andstakeholder collaboration challenges, institutional, policy, and legislative hurdles, financialconstraints, limitations in land, building, and roof resources, technical and technological obstacles, aswell as company resources and operational barriers.On the contrary, the study also sheds light on various factors that facilitate the adoption of solar PVtechnology in these residential communities. These facilitating factors include the impact of load-shedding on the demand for backup solutions like solar PV, the influence of social, stakeholder, andindustry players in driving awareness and engagement, the role of incentives, policy, and legislativeinstruments in promoting solar PV investment, the principle of economies of scale in driving adoptionin larger communities, and the perceived benefits of solar PV adoption across economic,environmental, social, and energy security domains.The research question focused on exploring the activities of a responsive business model that canfacilitate solar PV system installation in the residential sectional-title and townhouse communityschemes in South Africa. The study findings revealed two business models, i.e., the customer-ownedbusiness model (COBM) and the third-party-owned business model (TPOBM).Item Coal and the Environment: Some implications for South Africa(University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, 2024) Makhombothi, Ntuthuko; Rangasamy, LoganSouth Africa’s coal industry faces an existential threat from the need to transition to a low carbon economy. This study analyses the implications of the Just Energy Transition (JET) on the coal industry of South Africa using mixed methods approach and secondary data from industry reports, government reports and academic sources. The study demonstrates the significant economic contribution of coal to the GDP, employment and energy security, while evaluating the JET framework against international principles. Although the JET framework is largely aligned with international principles, there are some areas for improvement. The decommissioning of the Komati power station illustrates the shortcoming in the distributive, restorative and redistributive justice. The findings suggest a need for a balanced JET that ensures economic growth, energy security and environmental sustainability. Further research is required to develop transition pathways that mitigate against the negative socioeconomic consequences for coal dependent communitiesItem Investigating Criteria and Indicators to Assess the Sustainability of Renewable Energy Supply in South Africa(University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, 2021) Tshisela, Zizo; Mapitsa, CaitlinHistorically, according to Gunnarsdottir, Davidsdottir, Worrell and Sigurgeirsdottir (2020), energy was perceived narrowly in terms of pollution and air quality. Things have progressed, and energy is now regarded as a critical enabler of social and economic growth and sustainable development. As a result of the more progressive understanding of energy, energy problems are no longer seen in isolation but rather in combination with other growth challenges. In their energy for sustainability guidelines and methodologies of 2007, International Energy Agency (IEA, 2007) describes energy as a means to an end, which highlights four areas; a) a clean and safe environment, b) sustainable economy, quality of life, and people’s health. IEA (2007) further indicates there is no good or bad energy source (renewable and non-renewable). Therefore, the benefit is derived from the energy source being able to deliver the end product. The wider interpretation of energy and its cross-cutting influence emphasises its significance and multidimensionality (Gunnarsdottir et al., 2020). Depending on how energy from coal is processed, transported, and used, it could contribute to environmental degradation, climate change, and human health (IEA, 2007; Petinrin & Shaaban, 2015; Khan, 2020). Burning fossil fuels has been found to induce urban air emissions, regional acidification, and the possibility of climate change (IEA, 2007). According to Mathu (2014), the fossil fuels list includes “coal, natural gas, and fuel oil.” Coal emits the most emissions (Mathu, 2014). A sustainable energy sector allows the country and the entire world to participate in economic and social activities by balancing production and energy use with no or negligible effects on the environment (Wang, Jing, Zhang & Zhao, 2009; Oke, Ibrahim & Bokana, 2021). Many countries worldwide have embraced Renewable Energy as an alternative to fossil fuels (Armin Razmjoo, Sumper, and Davarpanah, 2020). Holt and Pengelly (2008) define Renewable Energy as “energy sources that are continually replenished by nature like the sun, the wind, water, the earth’s heat, and plants. Renewable Energy technologies turn these fuels into usable forms of energy, most often electricity, but also heat, chemicals, or mechanical power.” Renewable Energy options such as solar, wind, geothermal, hydroelectric, and ocean energy are sustainable options because they are available, non-replenishable, and proper for use (Armin Razmjoo et al., 2020). Renewable Energy is also considered clean and essential for sustainable development (Manso & Behmiri, 2013; Vanegas Cantarero 2020).Item The impact of the Development Bank of Southern Africa's investments on performance of renewable energy SMEs(University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, 2023) Mashabathakga, Tshidi; Mondi, LumkileThis study assesses the impact of Development Bank of South African (DBSA) investment on performance of renewable energy solar photovoltaic (PV) SMEs. While The DBSA is one of the leading African Development Financial Institutions (DFI) wholly owned by the government of South Africa, established in 1983 to promote economic development, growth, and regional integration through infrastructure finance to improve the quality of people’s lives Quantitative research was applied, the descriptive statistics used Analysis of variance (ANOVA) to analyse the empirical findings. The study indicates that funding had a minimal impact on employment, significant impact on solar photovoltaic installation and after-sales support skills development, a significant impact on expansion in the value chain into local warehousing for material storage and information and communication technology cluster development, and a minimal impact on revenue and market share growth. This study proposes a solution through the adoption of Porter’s value chain framework to enable development and growth across the end-to-end business chain in order to realise job creation, critical skills development for solar PV solution, and revenue and market growth. Furthermore, the study recommends possible solutions for long-term air pollution (carbon emission), and landfill pollution from the solar PV renewable energyItem Developing our financial markets to finance the energy transition(University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, 2023) Madungandaba, Gcebile F.Developing a financial market is complex and tedious; therefore, the needs of various stakeholders must be considered, and market efficiency must be ensured to develop the renewable energy (RE) market effectively. This study offers valuable guidance on the effective allocation of capital resources in the renewable energy (RE) market to facilitate a smooth transition to renewable energy. To achieve this aim, panel data from 42 developing nations in Africa, Asia, and South America, spanning 1990-2019, are analysed. This study uses a panel fixed effects model to investigate the relationship between renewable energy production and credit, equity, and bond market development. The results of the empirical analysis suggest that all three dimensions of financial development, namely credit, equity, and bond, are positively associated with renewable energy production, albeit to varying degrees. This work also proposes a framework to promote renewable energy production in developing countries based on the empirical findings and existing literature. The framework highlights the leading renewable energy policy categories and specific policies most effectively promoting renewable energy production in emerging marketsItem Factors contributing to the success of female leaders in South African Independent Power Producers(University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, 2023) Madali, Lusani JacqueelineGlobally, there is a transition towards low-carbon energy sources, and countries, including South Africa, are including renewable energy power generation into their energy mix to reduce carbon emissions and meet gender mainstreaming and equality objectives. The energy sector remains one of the most minor gender-diverse sectors in the economy. Studies have indicated that there are barriers and enabling factors that contribute to the success of female leaders. The study aimed to explore and analyse factors (barriers and enablers) contributing to the success of female leaders in South African Independent Power Producers. The research adopted a generic qualitative approach using a non-random sampling technique (self-selection) followed by thematic data analysis and interpretation to derive the narrative towards the study objectives. Data was collected from nine female participants from leading renewable energy IPP companies through semi-structured interview questions undertaken via an online platform. The study's key finding was how the feminist theory came into play when the COVID-19 pandemic interrupted the social norms, which shifted stereotype, patriarchal and discrimination views about females. In summary, the study also indicated that contributing factors could be both negative extrinsic (generational disadvantages, unconscious bias, discrimination, patriarchy, and stereotype) and intrinsic (lack of self-confidence) and positive extrinsic (support system, mentoring and training) and intrinsic (self-confidence), which can be a barrier or an enabler towards females attaining leadership roles within the renewable energy IPPsItem An Essay on the Welfare and Growth Implication of the Energy Mix in the South African Economy(University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, 2023) Sesele, Masedi; Kutela, GeloThis study investigated the welfare and growth implications of introducing renewable energy in South Africa’s energy mix. The investigation is divided into three chapters, providing a holistic analysis of climate change mitigation on developmental goals in South Africa. The first chapter determines the impact of the usage of non-renewable energy sources on selected sectors’ economic output in South Africa. The second chapter determines the pass-through effect and the response of consumer prices to renewable energy share increases in South Africa while using the exchange rate as a threshold. The third chapter determines through a natural experiment the impact of renewable energy policies such as the White Paper on the Energy Policy of the Republic of South Africa (1998), the White Paper on Renewable Energy Policy (2003) and the Integrated Resource Plan (2010) on South Africa’s economic growth by comparing the gross domestic product (GDP) growth path before and after the introduction of these policies. Results from the second chapter showed that coal was the least contributing factor to production for most sectors, showing that excessive coal usage may hinder economic output within the country. Petroleum has a positive and significant effect on the transport and agriculture sectors but has less of an effect on the other sectors. Electricity is a major contributing factor to production in some sectors, except for the industry sector, which may be adversely affected by the increasing electricity costs and constant load shedding in the country. Results from the third chapter showed that at an exchange rate threshold value of 7.7 R/$, the share of renewable energy pass-through to consumer prices is statistically significant below and above the threshold exchange rate value. When the exchange rate is above the threshold value, the pass- through effect is negative, indicating that an increase in the share of clean energy will decrease consumer prices. These results are largely attributed to the cost of renewable energy, which has been declining significantly in periods where the exchange rate was above the threshold value and, as a result, it had a negative pass-through effect on consumer prices. Results from the fourth chapter showed that each of the three green energy policies has a positive impact on the GDP, which shows that implementing renewable energy policies in South Africa has not only resulted in generating clean, renewable energy but also fosters economic growth within the country. Using a natural experiment, the study constructed a synthetic GDP growth path that vi would have been in place had there been no renewable energy intervention and compared it with the current GDP growth path post the intervention of renewable energy policy to identify the causal positive impact of green energy on economic growth. This thesis’ results encourage policymakers to further implement and improve renewable energy policies as the share of clean energy within South Africa’s energy mix not only mitigates climate change by decreasing greenhouse gas emissions but also positively affects economic growth by creating a clean ecosystem, job creation, increasing innovation and capital formation and overall improving total factor productivity in South Africa and the standard of living of ordinary South Africans